Method for Comparing Performances on Remotely Located Courses

ABSTRACT

A method and system are disclosed for comparing the performance of a participant in an event that includes movement along a course to another performance. The performance by the participant is monitored. Using a geographic database that represents the area in which the course is located, the participant&#39;s performance is compared to another performance. Then, the participant is provided with information comparing the performances.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a divisional of application Ser. No.10/825,574 filed Apr. 15, 2004, the entire disclosure of which isincorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to systems and applications that enablepersons who are located in different areas to engage in athletic orrecreational events, such as competitions or training, and compare theirperformances relative to each other.

Many popular sporting and recreational events and activities involvemovement or travel along a course located in a geographic area. Examplesof such events and activities include jogging, footraces, bicycle races,road rallies, triathlons, soap box derbies, dog sled racing,cross-country skiing, rollerblading, race walking, steeplechases,wheelchair racing, rowing, etc. Actual competitions (e.g., races) inthese events or activities are popular as well as training for theseevents or activities. These events and activities are popular for bothparticipants and spectators.

In general, each of these activities and events occurs in a specifiedplace at a specified time over a specified course in order to present anequal course or set of conditions for all participants. Theseconsiderations may limit or constrain the number of people who canparticipate in such events or activities. Further, these considerationsmay limit or detract from a person's ability to participate or train forsuch events.

Accordingly, it is an objective to provide a means by which a person canparticipate in an event that involves movement along a course located ina geographic area and compare his/her performance to anotherperformance, wherein the other performance occurs at the same time butin another geographic area.

It is another objective to provide a means by which a person canparticipate in an event that involves movement along a course located ina geographic area and compare his/her performance to anotherperformance, wherein the other performance occurred at another time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To address these and other objectives, the present invention includes asystem and method for comparing the performance of a participant in anevent that includes movement along a course to another performance. Theperformance by the participant is monitored. Using a geographic databasethat represents the area in which the course is located, theparticipant's performance is compared to another performance. Then, theparticipant is provided with information comparing the performances.

The performances that are compared may be by different participants orby the same participant, but performed at different times. Theperformances that are compared may be along the same course in the samegeographic area or may be along similar (or equivalent) courses indifferent geographic areas. Other alternatives are described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram that illustrates an embodiment of a system thatenables persons located in different geographic areas to participate inan event that involves movement along courses in their respectivegeographic areas and compare their performances.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a process performed by the system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 a diagram that illustrates an embodiment of a system that enablesa person to participate in an event that involves movement along acourse and obtain a comparison of his/her performance relative to thatof a virtual person moving along the same course or a similar course.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process performed by the system of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 a diagram that illustrates an embodiment of a system that enablesa person using a machine that simulates movement along a course toobtain a comparison of his/her performance relative to that of anotherperson moving along the actual course or a similar course.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a process performed by the system of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 a diagram that illustrates an embodiment of a system that enablesmultiple persons to use machines that simulates movement along a courseand obtain comparisons of their performances relative to each other.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a process performed by the system of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS I. ComparedPerformance Events—Multiple Locations

A. System

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a system 8 that enables persons located indifferent geographic areas to participate (e.g., compete, train,practice, etc.) with each other in a recreational or sporting activitythat involves movement along courses located in the geographic areas. InFIG. 1, a first participant, USER1, is located in a first geographicarea or location 10. A second participant, USER2, is located in a secondgeographic area or location 12. The first and second areas may bedifferent cities, such as Chicago and Moscow, different states,different countries, and so on. Although only two participants are shownin FIG. 1, it should be understood that the embodiment is not limited toonly two participants and that many participants may take part.

The first participant and the second participant want to take part in(or practice for) an event together at the same time while each is inhis/her respective geographic area. In this embodiment, the event is onethat involves covering some distance over a course in a geographic area.Examples of such events include running, bicycling, road rallies,triathlons, soap box derbies, dog sled racing, cross-country skiing,sledding, roller blade racing, race walking, wheelchair racing,steeplechases, rowing, skateboarding, street luge, adventure racing,snow boarding, rock climbing, extreme runs, and so on.

In this embodiment, the participants, USER1 and USER2, have mobilecommunications devices, 16 and 18, respectively. The mobilecommunications devices, 16 and 18, are wireless devices that enable theparticipants to communicate with a data network 20 while moving throughtheir respective geographic areas. In one embodiment, the communicationsdevices are cell or mobile phones that use any suitable wirelesstechnology, including but not limited to PCS, GPRS, EDGE or WIFI.Alternatively, the communications devices may be PDAs. According toanother embodiment, the devices may be specialized sports devices. Theparticipants do not need to use the same type of communications device.

The data network 20 may include any communications network or systemthat enables the exchange of data between locations. Examples includethe Internet, telephone systems, proprietary systems, satellite systems,and so on.

The participants, USER1 and USER2, use their communications devices tocommunicate over the data network 20 with a service provider 24. Theservice provider 24 includes hardware and software capable of sendingdata to and receiving data from the participants over the data network20. The service provider also includes hardware and software capable ofstoring and executing programs. For example, the service provider mayhave one or more servers with suitable processors, data storage (e.g.,hard drives, CD-ROMs, DVDs), memory (e.g., RAM), and so on.

The service provider 24 includes a competition comparison andequivalency program 28. The competition comparison and equivalencyprogram 28 is a software program. A copy of the competition andcomparison equivalency program 28 is stored on an appropriate datastorage medium of the service provider and loaded into memory where isit run. The competition and comparison equivalency program 28 can beused for various applications to enable users located in differentlocations to compete against or train with each other, as explainedbelow.

The competition comparison and equivalency program 28 uses a geographicdatabase 30. The geographic database 30 is accessible to the serviceprovider 24 and may be located with the service provider 24. Thegeographic database 30 includes data that represents various geographicfeatures located in the geographic areas, 10 and 12. For example, thegeographic database 30 includes data about road networks located in thegeographic areas 10 and 12. The data about the road network includevarious kinds of information, such as the geographic coordinates (e.g.,latitude, longitude, altitude) of positions of the roads, street namesof the roads, which roads connect to other roads, landmarks, addressesranges along the roads, and so on. In addition, the geographic database30 may include data that indicates walkways, pedestrian paths, bicyclepaths, hiking and jogging rails, waterways, as well as various otherimproved and/or unimproved means for traveling across the geographicareas.

The geographic database 30 may also include data about points ofinterest, such as hotels, restaurants, museums, stadiums, offices,automobile dealerships, auto repair shops, etc., located in thegeographic areas. The geographic database 30 may also include data aboutother geographic features, such as bodies of water, mountain ranges,surface types, land cover, as well as other kinds of information.

In this embodiment, the participants, USER1 and USER2, each carrypositioning equipment 34 and 36. The positioning equipment 34 and 36includes hardware and software capable of determining each participant'sposition in his/her respective geographic area. In one embodiment, thepositioning equipment is a GPS unit. Alternatively, the positioningequipment may include DGPS units, cell phone positioning technology(e.g., triangulation, time- or direction-of-arrival, etc.), beacons,timing chips, systems that use a RFID tag on the participant used incombination with sensors along the course, or any other technology bywhich the position of the user can be determined. (The positioningequipment carried by each participant may use or rely on othertechnology that is not carried by the participant, e.g., a GPS unitcarried by a participant relies on signals from GPS satellites.) In thisembodiment, the positioning equipment 34 is included as part of each ofthe mobile communications devices 16 and 18.

In addition, in this embodiment the mobile communications devices 16 and18 include client applications 40 and 42, respectively. The clientapplications 40 and 42 provide for supporting and coordinating functionsassociated with the competition and comparison equivalency program 28,as explained below. The communications devices, 16 and 18, also includeuser interfaces, 44 and 46, respectively. Each user interface providesinformation to and accepts information from the participant.

B. Operation

FIG. 2 shows a process 50 performed by the system 8 of FIG. 1 forenabling comparisons of performances between persons located indifferent geographic areas. There are various alternative ways by whichthe system 8 of FIG. 1 can enable performance comparisons betweenpersons in different geographic areas. In one alternative, an eventorganizer 51 (who may be one of the participants) accesses thecompetition and comparison equivalency program 28 to set up amultiple-location event. At this stage, the race organizer providesseveral parameters or inputs to the competition and comparisonequivalency program 28 (Step 52). These parameters or inputs may includean approximate starting time, an identification of each of the multiplelocations where the events will be held and a race distance. There maybe other inputs and/or parameters in addition to these. For example, theevent organizer 51 may input information that indicates the approximatestarting locations (in one or more of the multiple geographic areas),the type of event (e.g., foot race, bicycle, dog sled, rowing,wheelchair race, and so on). Selection of inputs and parameters may bean interactive or iterative process. For example, the event organizer 51may input a desired starting location to which the competition andcomparison equivalency program 28 responds with one or more alternativestarting locations.

With these inputs, the competition and comparison equivalency program 28determines multiple course routes (labeled 54 and 56 in FIG. 1), one foreach of the multiple geographic areas (Step 58 in FIG. 2). Indetermining the multiple course routes, the competition and comparisonequivalency program 28 uses the geographic database 30. The competitionand comparison equivalency program 28 attempts to match the multiplecourse routes as much as possible. For example, the competition andcomparison equivalency program 28 attempts to select course routes thathave the same length, the same changes in elevation, the same changes indirection, the same surfaces, and so on or that will have an equivalenteffect on each participant. If climatological information is available,the competition and comparison equivalency program 28 may attempt todetermine course routes that have matching wind direction, temperature,and humidity. This may be an interactive or iterative process in whichthe competition and comparison equivalency program 28 proposes candidatecourse routes to the event organizer 51 and the event organizer choosesthe course routes from the proposed candidate routes.

Once a route has been selected for each of the multiple geographicareas, route information is provided to the participants (Step 60). Inone embodiment, the route information is downloaded from the serviceprovider 24 to the participants' communications devices 16 and 18. Theclient applications 40 and 42 in the participants' communicationsdevices 16 and 18, respectively, include functions for storing and usingthe route information.

In this embodiment, the events are started simultaneously in each of themultiple geographic areas. During the events, as each of theparticipants moves along the course route in his/her respectivegeographic area, the participant's location is determined using thepositioning equipment 34 or 36 carried by the participant. Theparticipant's location is matched to the course route that he/she ismoving along. This matching may be done by the client application 40 or42 in the participant's communications device. In addition, eachparticipant's location (or matched position along his/her course route)is transmitted to the competition and comparison equivalency program 28(Step 62). The competition and comparison equivalency program 28 matcheseach participant's position along his/her course against the otherparticipant's position along his/her course route (Step 64). In otherwords, referring to FIG. 1, the relative position of USER1 along thecourse route 54 in the first geographic area 10 is matched to therelative position of USER2 along the course route 56 in the secondgeographic 12. The competition and comparison equivalency program 28transmits data to each participant's communications device thatindicates the other participant's relative position. For example, thecompetition and comparison equivalency program 28 transmits data toUSER1 that indicates the relative position of USER2 along the courseroute 56 in the second location 12. In addition, a comparison betweenthe relative positions of USER1 and USER2 along their respective courseroutes is made. (This comparison information may be provided by thecompetition and comparison equivalency program 28 or by the clientapplications 40 or 42.) Information indicating the relative positions ofthe participants is presented to each of them via the respective userinterface of his/her communications device. The user interface mayconvey this information in any suitable way, e.g., audible messages,visual displays (graphic or numeric), cues, and so on.

Since the course routes in the multiple geographic locations areselected to be approximately equivalent, a comparison of the relativepositions of the users along their respective course routes indicateshow the users compare to each other. In this way, the participants cancompete against each other (or train with each other) even though theyare in different geographic locations.

The process 50 (in FIG. 2) continues (Step 68) until the event is over(Step 70).

As mentioned above, there are various alternative ways that thecompetition and comparison equivalency program 28 can be used. Forexample, the event organizer, i.e., the person who accesses thecompetition and comparison equivalency program 28 to set up amultiple-location competition, may be one or more of the participants.

The competition and comparison equivalency program 28 may be used fortraining purposes. For example, a person in one geographic location maywish to train with a person in another location, instead of (or inaddition to) racing against the other person.

In another embodiment, the functions of the competition and comparisonequivalency program 28 may be performed entirely by the clientapplication(s) 40 or 42 in the end users' communications devices 16 and18.

The event may be planned (as described above) or may be organized on anad hoc basis.

The users may be able to communicate (e.g., speak, instant message, textmessage) with each other. For example, in the example where thecompetition and comparison equivalency program 28 is being used fortraining purposes, the participants may want to talk to each other abouttheir training, their respective environments, etc.

The user interfaces of the communications devices may include displayscreens that provide graphical representations of the courses to theusers. In additions, the relative positions of the users may beindicated on the depicted courses as the users move along the courses.

The system may include various additional features for recording times,efforts, and records. This kind of information may be recorded for eachindividual, e.g., a personal best. This kind of information may also berecorded for each different type of event, for each age bracket, foreach geographic area, etc.

II. Compared Performance Events—Virtual Competitors

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a system 72 that enables a person in onegeographic area to participate in an event that involves movement alonga course in the geographic area and compare his/her performance againsta virtual competitor. The system 72 simulates movement of the virtualcompetitor along the same course as the participant is moving along oralternatively, the system 72 simulates movement of the virtualcompetitor along a different course in the same or a differentgeographic area. The system 72 in FIG. 3 is similar to the system 8 inFIG. 1 and like components are referred to by the same names.

In FIG. 3, a participant, USER3, is located in a geographic area 74. Thegeographic area 74 may be the same as either geographic area 10 or 12 inFIG. 1. For example, the geographic area 74 may be a city, such asChicago, Los Angeles, Paris, Moscow, etc. The participant USER3, wantsto engage in an event, such as running, bicycling, etc., that involvescovering some distance over a course in the geographic area 74.

In this embodiment, the participant, USER3, has a communications device76 that enables the user to access a service provider 78 over a datanetwork 80. The communications device 76 includes positioning equipment82 capable of determining the position of the user in the geographicarea 74, a user interface 86 and a client application 88 that providesfor various functions, as explained below. The service provider 78 runsa competition comparison and equivalency program 90 that uses ageographic database 92. In addition, the competition comparison andequivalency program 90 uses a virtual competitors database 94.

The virtual competitors database 94 includes entries for variouscourses, events, and competitor identities. Each course entry isassociated with one or more event entries or sections of an event (e.g.,a 10 k subsection of the Boston Marathon), which is associated with oneor more competitor identity entries. The course entries represent eitherfictional or known courses, such as the course of the Boston Marathon.The event entries represent either fictional or known events, such asthe 2000 Olympics. The competitor identity entries represent eitherfictional or real persons, such as professional or amateur athletes,celebrities, etc. The virtual competitors database 94 may also includeinformation that indicates each virtual competitor's expectedperformance or pace for an associated event. The virtual competitorsdatabase 94 may also include entries for an individual participant's ownprevious performances over various courses or in various events.

FIG. 4 shows a process 96 performed by the system 72 of FIG. 3 forenabling the participant, USER3, to participate in an event thatinvolves movement along a course route in the geographic area 74 andcompare his/her performance against a virtual competitor. Theparticipant USER3 accesses the competition and comparison equivalencyprogram 90 to set up a virtual competitor comparison. USER3 accesses thecompetition and comparison equivalency program 90 over the data network78 using his/her communications device 76. USER3 provides severalinitial parameters or inputs to the competition and comparisonequivalency program 90 (Step 98). USER3 has the option of providing acourse route to the competition and comparison equivalency program 90(Step 100). If the participant wants to provide the course route, theparticipant indicates the course route to the competition and comparisonequivalency program 90 at this initial stage (Step 101). For example,the participant may input a course distance, an approximate startingtime, an identification of an approximate starting location, and thetype of race (e.g., foot race, bicycle, dog sled, and so on).Additionally, the participant may input other information such as acourse pace. There may be other inputs and/or parameters in addition tothese. Selection of input parameters may be an interactive or iterativeprocess.

Alternatively, if the participant does not want to provide a courseroute, the participant provides input parameters so that the competitionand comparison equivalency program 90 can determine a course route. Ifthe participant does not provide a course route, the competition andcomparison equivalency program 90 determines a course route for theparticipant based on the inputs provided by the participant (Step 102).This course route is provided to the participant (Step 104). In oneembodiment, the course route information is downloaded from the serviceprovider 78 to the participant's communications device 76.

Next, the competition and comparison equivalency program 90 determines avirtual competitor (Step 106). The virtual competitor is selected fromthe virtual competitor database 94. In selecting the virtual competitor,the competition and comparison equivalency program 90 uses variouscriteria. For example, the virtual competitor may be selected based onthe expected pace input by the participant. Alternatively, the virtualcompetitor may be selected based on an association with the geographiclocation of the participant or another selected geographic location. Thevirtual competitor may be a celebrity or an athlete known forparticipation in the type of event. Information about the virtualcompetitor may be sent to the participant.

Next, the event begins. During the event, as the participant moves alongthe course (labeled 110 in FIG. 3), the participant's position isdetermined using the positioning equipment 82. Data indicating theparticipant's position is transmitted to the competition and comparisonequivalency program 90 (Step 112). The competition and comparisonequivalency program 90 matches the participant's position along his/hercourse against the virtual competitor's equivalent position alonghis/her course (Step 116). That is, given the elapsed time, the relativeposition of USER3 along the course 110 is matched to the relativeposition of the virtual competitor along the equivalent course. Acomparison between the relative positions of USER3 and the virtualcompetitor may be made. The competition and comparison equivalencyprogram 90 transmits data to the participant that indicates the virtualcompetitor's relative position (Step 120). This information is receivedby the client application 88 and provided to the participant via theuser interface 86 of the communications device 76. In this way, USER3can compete against the virtual competitor along an approximatelyequivalent course.

The process 96 (in FIG. 4) continues (Step 124) until the event is over(Step 126).

In an alternative embodiment, the device carried by the participantduring the event does not need to have a communications capability.Instead, information about the virtual competitor and the course isobtained before the event from a program on a personal computer or froman online source. This information is stored in an electronic devicewhich is then carried by the participant during the event. Theparticipant's performance relative to the virtual competitor can bedetermined using programming installed entirely within the electronicdevice carried by the participant during the event.

As mentioned above, the virtual competitors database may include entriesfor an individual's own previous performances in events or on variouscourses. In this manner, a participant can measure his/her performanceagainst his/her own previous performances, e.g., for training purposes.

III. Compared Performance Events—Stationary/Mobile

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a system 140 that enables a participantwho is using a stationary device that simulates movement along a courseto participate in an event and compare his/her performance againstanother participant who is physically moving along the course. Thesystem 140 in FIG. 5 is similar to the systems 8 and 72 in FIGS. 1 and3, and like components are referred to by the same names.

In FIG. 5, a participant, USER4, is located in a first geographic area142. Another participant, USER5, is located in another geographic area148. The first and second geographic areas may be different cities,different states, different countries, and so on, including any of theareas mentioned in the previous embodiments. Although only twoparticipants are shown in FIG. 5, it should be understood that theembodiment is not limited to only two participants and that many moreparticipants may take part.

The participants, USER4 and USER5, want to take part in an eventtogether at the same time while each is in his/her respective geographicarea. In this embodiment, the event is one that involves covering somedistance over a course in a geographic area. Examples of such eventsinclude running, bicycling, rowing, etc., as mentioned above. In thisembodiment, USER5 will actually physically move along a course 150 inhis/her geographic area 148 while USER4 will operate a machine 154 (alsoreferred to as the “simulation machine”) that remains stationary, butthat simulates movement along the course 150. Examples of machines thatsimulate movement along a course include treadmills, exercise bicycles,rowing machines, cross-country skiing machines, stair stepping machines,driving simulators, and so on. The course over which movement by USER4is simulated may be the same course 150 being actually physicallycovered by USER5. Alternatively, the courses may be different.

In this embodiment 140, the participant, USER5, has a mobilecommunications device 158. The communications device 158 is a wirelessdevice that enables USER5 to communicate with a service provider 162over a data network 160 while moving along the course 150. The serviceprovider 162 includes a competition comparison and equivalency program164 that uses a geographic database 166. In this embodiment, thecommunications device 158 carried by USER5 includes positioningequipment 168 capable of determining the user's position in thegeographic area 148, a client application 170, and a user interface 172.

In this embodiment, the simulation machine 154 used by USER4 includescommunications equipment 156. The communications equipment 156 isoperatively coupled to the simulation machine 154 so that data can beexchanged between the simulation machine 154 and the service provider162 via the data network 160. The simulation machine 154 also includes aclient application 174 and a user interface 176. Alternatively, thefunctions of the communications device, the client application or theuser interface may be provided in one or more separate devices.

FIG. 6 shows a process 180 performed by the system 140 of FIG. 5 forenabling comparative performance events between a person physicallymoving along a course in one geographic area and another person using astationary machine that simulates movement along the course.

In one alternative, an event organizer 182 (who may be one of theparticipants) accesses the competition and comparison equivalencyprogram 164 to set up the event. As in the previous embodiments, theevent organizer provides several initial parameters or inputs to thecompetition and comparison equivalency program 164 (Step 184). Thecompetition and comparison equivalency program 164 determines multiplecourses, one for each of the participants (Step 186). In thisembodiment, the course for USER5 (i.e., the participant who will beactually moving) defines a route in the geographic area 148. The coursefor USER4 (i.e., the participant who will be operating the stationarysimulation machine 154) defines a simulated route. The simulated routeis formed so that it is similar to the actual route that USER5 will becovering. For example, the simulated route may be chosen to have thesame length, the same changes in elevation, the same changes indirection, etc., as the actual route. The competition and comparisonequivalency program 164 uses the geographic database 166 for the purposeof creating the simulated route with characteristics that are similar tothose of the actual route.

Once the courses have been determined, route information is provided tothe participants (Step 190). In one embodiment, the route information isdownloaded from the service provider 164 to USER5's communicationsdevice 158 and the simulation machine 154. The client application 170 inthe user's communications device 158 and the client application 174 inthe simulation machine 154 include functions for storing and using thereceived route information. This information may be used by thesimulation machine to simulate the event.

In this embodiment, the participants start along their respectivecourses at the same time. During the event, USER5 moves along the courseroute 150 in the geographic area 148. Simultaneously, USER4 uses thesimulation machine 154 to simulate movement along the equivalent course.The application 174 in the simulation machine 154 uses the route datareceived from the competition and comparison equivalency program 164 tocause the simulation machine 154 to operate in a manner that providesUSER4 with an experience that is similar to what he/she would havemoving along the course 150 in the other geographic area 148. Forexample, the simulation machine 154 may increase an incline orresistance in order to simulate an uphill portion of the course.

During the event, USER5's location is determined using the positioningequipment 168 and matched to the course 150 that he/she is moving along.This matching may be done by the client application 170. Data indicatingUSER5's position and/or matched position is transmitted to thecompetition and comparison equivalency program 164 (Step 194). Inaddition, the simulation machine 154 determines a simulated position ofUSER4 based on USER4's effort. USER4's simulated position is matched tothe simulated course by the application 174 in the simulation machine154. Data indicating USER4's simulated matched position is transmittedto the competition and comparison equivalency program 164 (Step 194).

The competition and comparison equivalency program 164 matches eachparticipant position along his/her (real or simulated) course againstthe other participant's position along his/her (simulated or real)course (Step 198). The competition and comparison equivalency program164 transmits data to each participant that indicates the otherparticipant's relative position (Step 200).

In this embodiment, the participant on the stationary machine may obtainadditional information that enhances the simulation experience. Forexample, the participant on the stationary machine may be provided withvideo images and/or sounds. These video images and/or sounds may beprovided to the participant by the user interface of the simulationmachine or by other equipment located in proximity to the participant.The video images may show the participant what he/she would see from apoint of view corresponding to the participant's simulated positionalong the actual course (i.e., a first-person view). Thus, the videoimages would change as the participant simulates movement along thecourse. Alternatively, the images may show an overhead or perspectiveview of the course (i.e., a third-person view). The images may be actualimages of the actual course or alternatively, the images may besimulations based on the actual course. Methods for providingsimulations based on actual route data are disclosed in the copendingapplications, “METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR USING GEOGRAPHIC DATA IN COMPUTERGAME DEVELOPMENT” Ser. No. 10/798,459, “APPLICATION PROGRAMMINGINTERFACE FOR GEOGRAPHIC DATA IN COMPUTER GAMES” Ser. No. 10/798,531,and “GEOGRAPHIC AREA TEMPLATES FOR COMPUTER GAMES” Ser. No. 10/798,632,the entire disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein. Inone embodiment, an image of the other participant is superimposed in theimage shown to the participant of the stationary machine.

Since the simulated course is determined to be similar to the actualcourse, a comparison of the relative positions of the participants alongtheir respective courses indicates how the participants compare to eachother.

The process 180 continues (Step 204) until the event is over (Step 208).

IV. Compared Performance Events—Stationary/Stationary

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of a system 220 that enables a participantusing a stationary device that simulates movement along a course in ageographic area to participate in an event and compare his/herperformance against another participant who is also using a stationarydevice that simulates movement along the course. The system 220 in FIG.7 is similar to the system 8 in FIG. 1, the system 72 in FIG. 3, and thesystem 140 in FIG. 5, and like components are referred to by the samenames.

In FIG. 7, participants, USER6 and USER7 are located in a firstgeographic area 224. In one alternative, USER6 and USER7 are located inthe same place, e.g., the same building which may be a gym or healthclub, in the first geographic area 224. Another participant, USER8, islocated in another geographic area 228. The first and second geographicareas may be different cities, etc. Although three participants areshown in FIG. 7, the embodiment is not limited to use by threeparticipants, but may be used by two participants or by more than threeparticipants.

The participants want to engage in an event together at the same timewhile each is in his/her respective geographic area. As in the previousembodiments, the event is one that involves covering some distance overa course in a geographic area. In this embodiment, all the participantsoperate machines 232, 234 and 236 that remain stationary, but thatsimulate movement along a course in a geographic area. In thisembodiment, all the participants simulate movement over the samesimulated course. In alternative embodiments, some or all theparticipants may operate machines that simulate movement over differentcourses.

In this embodiment, the simulation machines 232 and 234 are coupled toand exchange data with a competition comparison and equivalency program240. The competition comparison and equivalency program 240 is run on anappropriate computer hardware platform, such as a personal computer orserver 241. If the simulation machines 232 and 234 and the computerhardware platform 241 are located in the same building, such as agymnasium or health club, they can be connected together using cabling.Alternatively, the simulation machines 232 and 234 and the computerhardware platform 241 can communicate with each other wirelessly. Thesimulation machine 236, which is located in the other geographic area228, uses communications equipment 244 and an appropriate network 246 toexchange data with the competition comparison and equivalency program240. The competition comparison and equivalency program 240 uses ageographic database 242.

FIG. 8 shows a process 250 performed by the system 220 of FIG. 7. Anevent organizer 260 (who may be one of the participants) accesses thecompetition and comparison equivalency program 240 to set up an eventthat involve simulated movement over a simulated course. The eventorganizer provides several initial parameters (Step 266). Thecompetition and comparison equivalency program 240 determines asimulated course for the participants (Step 270). In this embodiment,the course may be based on an actual course through a real geographicarea. The competition and comparison equivalency program 240 uses thegeographic database 242 to identify the characteristics of the actualcourse in order to determine characteristics for the simulated coursethat are similar or equivalent to those of the actual course. Forexample, the simulated course may be chosen to have the same length, thesame changes in elevation, the same changes in direction, etc., as theactual course.

Once the course has been selected, route information is provided to thesimulation machines being used by the participants (Step 276). In oneembodiment, the route information is transmitted to the remotely locatedparticipant, USER8, over the network 246.

As in the previous embodiments, the participants start at the same time.During the event, the participants operate their respective stationarysimulation machines to simulate movement along the selected course. Thecompetition and comparison equivalency program 240 causes the simulationmachines to operate in a manner that provides each participant with anexperience that is similar to what he/she would have if he/she wereactually moving along the actual course.

During the event, the competition and comparison equivalency program 240determines each participant's simulated position based on theparticipant's effort (Step 280). Each participant's simulated positionis matched to the simulated course. Each participant's simulatedposition is also matched to the simulated positions of the otherparticipants (Step 284). Data indicating each participant's position aswell as the other participants' relative positions is provided to theusers. The competition and comparison equivalency program 240 providesinformation to each participant via the respective user interfaces thatindicates the participant's position and the other participants'relative positions (Step 288).

As in the previous embodiment, the participants of the stationarymachines may obtain visual and/or audio information that shows views ofactual or simulated scenes along the actual course. Images of the otherparticipants may be superimposed in the scenes.

Since the participants are all simulating movement along the samesimulated course, a comparison of the relative simulated positions ofthe participants indicates how the participants compare to each other.

The process 250 continues (Step 290) until the event is over (Step 296).

In one application of this embodiment, a sponsor, such as a health clubchain, can conduct a competition between participants who are indifferent locations throughout a country. For example, a health clubchain can conduct a simulated 5K race between participants in New York,Chicago, and Los Angeles. The health club chain programs stationaryexercise machines, e.g., treadmills, in each location to have the sameoperating characteristics and then starts the event. The participantsare provided with information, e.g., visual and/or audible, thatindicates how they are performing relative to each other. In thismanner, participants can participate in the same competition even thoughthey are located in different locations.

V. Alternatives

The previously disclosed embodiments describe several systems andmethods that enable a participant located in one geographic area toengage in an event that involves (real or simulated) movement over acourse and compare his/her performance to that of another participant(real or simulated). The various disclosed embodiments may be combinedin various ways.

In alternative embodiments, additional technology may be incorporatedinto any of the previously disclosed systems. For example, biometricsensors may be used to provide a more detailed comparison of aparticipant's performance relative to another participant or to a chosenpre-recorded profile. This would allow the user to track how his/herrespiration, heart rate or other biometrics compared to those ofanother. Use of biometric sensors in this manner may provide advantagesover prior systems and may allow for additional ways to compareequivalent efforts, performances, etc.

In other alternative, equipment, such as lateral G-Force sensors oraccelerometers, may be used. These would provide additional informationthat could be used to simulate courses in different locations. Forexample, this type of equipment could provide information that could beused to simulate actions, such as carving a hard turn, bursting out of aturn or slowing late when entering into a turn, which are used in fastsports events such as cycling, skating, or driving.

In another alternative, cameras (still or video) could be used to showreal visual representations of spatial data, such as start points, endpoints, or features too fine for GPS sensors (e.g., specific rocks tostep on when running, specific rails or curbs to grind while skating,and so on). Information about these features would be stored for use inproviding the simulated courses.

In another alternative, the video images shown to a participant mayinclude training or other information. For example, the video images mayshow a desired track through a curve, a desired pace or stride, etc.This training information may be superimposed on the video image or maybe shown in side-by-side images presented to the participant. This kindof information may be shown to the participant during the event or maybe reviewed by the participant after the event.

Embodiments of the disclosed systems can be implemented using networkedequipment or standalone computers. Client-server or peer-to-peertechnology may be used to exchange performance data.

The devices carried by the participants may include data memory fortransmission of performance data and/or later uploading. Alternatively,centralized or decentralized application servers may be used to allowparticipants to record and share any performance data. This would allowpersonal best or most extreme run information to be stored and shared.Sharing this kind of information may also allow online communities toform, in which a user in any geographic area could search to determinethe most extreme run on record and compete against it.

In some embodiments, the user interface provided to the participant maysimply provide audio cues (e.g., “plus 2.4 seconds”, “minus 42 feet”, or“140 versus 156 beats per minute”). Alternatively, the user interfacemay be as complex as a graphically simulated representation of theopponent including real pictures or graphics with textual and graphicaltelemetry.

In some of the embodiments, it was described how the equivalent real orvirtual course routes were determined so that participants would be ableto compare their performances. Factors that may be considered indetermining equivalent courses include distance, elevation changes,temperature, humidity, wind, surface, and turns. Other factors may beconsidered when determining equivalent courses. Some of these otherfactors include average time per unit distance, average VO₂ (volumeoxygen) expelled per unit distance, average heart-rate per unitdistance, time to complete a particular segment of event, caloriesexpended, etc. Suitable equipment (e.g., heart rate monitors, etc.) maybe used to obtain the information for determining these factors.

In another embodiment, personal differences may be taken into accountwhen determining equivalent courses or when comparing performances oncourses. The personal factors to be taken into account may include age,gender, physical handicaps, and so on.

In another alternative embodiment, a participant obtains courseinformation prior to starting an event and then records his/herperformance during the event. The participant records his/herperformance using a suitable device, such as an appropriately programmedPDA or GPS unit, that the participant carries during the event. Thedevice includes a data storage medium for saving the performance data.The device does not necessarily have wireless communications capability.After the event, the participant transfers the performance data from thecarried device to another system, such as a personal computer or anetwork computer. The performance data may be transferred from thecarried device by docking, synchronizing, emailing, etc. The performancedata is stored for future use by the participant or by anotherparticipant. For example, the participant may want to try to improvehis/her performance against prior performances.

In another alternative, the system can be used to compare other metricsof performance. Some of these other performance metrics may includehorsepower, exertion, maximum leg press, G-forces, etc. These otherperformance metrics may be used and compared not only as informationalpurposes along courses, but also as objectives of comparison.

It is intended that the foregoing detailed description be regarded asillustrative rather than limiting and that it is understood that thefollowing claims including all equivalents are intended to define thescope of the invention.

1. A method for facilitating a first performance by a participant in anevent that includes movement along a course located in a firstgeographic area, the method comprising: using a geographic database thatcontains data that represents geographic features to identify geographicfeatures in the first geographic area; determining the course based onthe identified geographic features in the first geographic area; formingsimulated route information for movement on a stationary device locatedin a second geographic area different from the first geographic area;providing the simulated route information to the stationary device,wherein the simulated route information causes the stationary device tosimulate a substantially equivalent geographic feature of the courseincluding selecting a substantially same distance to move upon thestationary device as covered by the course; comparing the firstperformance to a second performance, wherein the second performance ison the stationary device based on the simulated route information; andproviding an indication of the comparing of the first and the secondperformances to the participant.
 2. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: providing an indication of the comparing of the first andthe second performances to a another participant that performs thesecond performance on the stationary device.
 3. The method of claim 1,wherein the indication of the comparing is provided to the participantwhile the participant is engaged in the first performance.
 4. The methodof claim 1, wherein the simulated route information causes thestationary device to simulate a substantially equivalent geographicfeature of the course further including changing incline of thestationary device to substantially match a change in incline of thecourse.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the indication ofthe comparing of the first and the second performances to theparticipant comprises transmitting the indication of the comparing to acommunication device used by the participant.
 6. The method of claim 1,wherein the stationary device comprises a treadmill exercise machine, anexercise bicycle, a rowing machine, a cross-country skiing machine, or astair stepping machine.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the event isone selected from a group consisting of: running, bicycling,cross-country skiing, race walking, and rowing.
 8. The method of claim1, further comprising: determining positions of the participant duringthe first performance.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the positionsof the participant are determined using a positioning device.
 10. Themethod of claim 9, wherein the positioning device is selected from agroup consisting of: a Global Positioning System unit, a DifferentialGlobal Positioning System unit, cell phone positioning technology thatuses triangulation, cell phone positioning technology that usestime-of-arrival, cell phone positioning technology that usesdirection-of arrival, and beacons.
 11. The method of claim 8, whereinthe positions of the participant are transmitted as data wirelessly froma communications device located with the participant.
 12. A method forfacilitating a second performance by a participant in an event thatincludes movement on a stationary device, the method comprising:identifying, via a database, a course located in a first geographicarea, wherein a first performance includes movement along the course;forming simulated route information for the movement on the stationarydevice located in a second geographic area different from the firstgeographic area; providing the simulated route information to thestationary device, wherein the simulated route information causes thestationary device to simulate a substantially equivalent geographicfeature of the course including selecting a substantially same distanceto move upon the stationary device as covered by the course; comparingthe first performance to the second performance, wherein the secondperformance is on the stationary device based on the simulated routeinformation; and providing an indication of the comparing of the firstand the second performances to the participant.
 13. The method of claim12, wherein the indication of the comparing of the first and the secondperformances is provided to the participant while the participant isengaged in the second performance.
 14. The method of claim 12, furthercomprising: providing an indication of the comparing of the first andthe second performances to a another participant that performs the firstperformance along the course.
 15. The method of claim 12, wherein thesimulated route information causes the stationary device to simulate asubstantially equivalent geographic feature of the course furtherincluding changing incline of the stationary device to substantiallymatch a change in incline of the course.
 16. The method of claim 12,further comprising: transmitting information about the identified courseto a device used by another participant that performs the firstperformance.
 17. The method of claim 12, wherein the stationary devicecomprises a treadmill exercise machine, an exercise bicycle, a rowingmachine, a cross-country skiing machine, or a stair stepping machine.18. The method of claim 12, wherein providing the indication of thecomparing of the first and the second performances to the participantcomprises transmitting the indication of the comparing to acommunication device used by the participant.
 19. The method of claim18, wherein the communication device is coupled or part of thestationary device.
 20. A method for facilitating performances byparticipants in an event that includes movement on stationary devices,the method comprising: generating simulated course information for afirst performance including movement on a first stationary device andfor a second performance including movement on a second stationarydevice; providing the simulated course information to the firststationary device and the second stationary device, wherein thesimulated course information causes both the first stationary device andthe second stationary device to select a substantially same distance tomove upon for the respective performances on the first stationary deviceand the second stationary device; comparing the first performance to thesecond performance; providing a first indication of the comparing of thefirst and the second performances to a first participant, wherein thefirst performance is performed on the first stationary device by thefirst participant; and providing a second indication of the comparing ofthe first and the second performances to a second participant, whereinthe second performance is performed on the second stationary device bythe second participant.
 21. The method of claim 20, wherein thesimulated course information further causes both the first stationarydevice and the second stationary device to change incline during therespective performances, and wherein the incline change is asubstantially same change that occurs at a substantially same time inboth the first and second stationary devices.
 22. The method of claim20, wherein the first and second indications of the comparing areprovided to the first and second participants, respectively, while thefirst and second participants are engaged in the first and secondperformances, respectively.
 23. The method of claim 20, wherein thesimulated course information corresponds to geographic features of areal course located in a geographic area.
 24. The method of claim 23,wherein the simulated course information causes the first and secondstationary devices to simulate a substantially same length andsubstantially same elevation changes as in the real course for both thefirst and second performances.
 25. The method of claim 20, wherein thefirst and second stationary devices comprise treadmill exercisemachines, exercise bicycles, rowing machines, cross-country skiingmachines, or stair stepping machines.
 26. The method of claim 20,wherein the first stationary device is located in a first geographicarea and the second stationary device is located in a second geographicarea that is different than and remote from the first geographic area.